American Modern: Architecture, Community, Columbus, Indiana

My first visit to Columbus, Indiana, was in 1972 as a student enrolled in the architecture program at Ball State University. This was the first architecture program at a public university in Indiana, and our class was only the sixth ever cohort. Architectural Record magazine has named Columbus the sixth most important U.S. city in terms of architecture, and with a trip to Columbus being only three hours from campus, visiting was an incredible opportunity for architecture and landscape design students—especially in the 1970s, when many of Columbus’s most architecturally significant buildings were added to the landscape. Our professors took full advantage of this opportunity throughout my five years in college.  

So having “been there and done that in Columbus” during my college education and entire professional career; I found Matt Shaw and Iwan Baan’s American Modern a breath of fresh air. This fresh air included three specific elements of the book, which provided me with new information and a fresh perspective of Columbus’s architecture and built environment: 

First, both the introduction and second chapter, “Total Community Project,” included information about how community leaders developed the early culture, collaboration and soft leadership of Columbus. In addition, the stories describing how the early, significant projects “came to be” would provide a fascinating subject for anyone interested in community development, architects and architecture. These historical stories and information were presented in a very understandable discussion, which all readers would be able to understand and appreciate.  

Next, Iwan Baan’s real photography included in this book is different than that in most architecture books and is inclusive of people who have not “posed” for the photos. These are photos of real members of the community (of all ages) interacting with the landscape and built environment in a realistic way. This is very refreshing because so many of the books and guidebooks about Columbus’s architecture and design include staged photos or photos without people. I applaud Baan and Shaw for providing a different outlook and view for the photography in American Modern.  

Lastly, the utilization of drone photography throughout the book provided a different view and perspective of the landscapes and buildings than I’ve seen in previous books on the topic. It is important to understand the context of the landscapes and buildings in their place in the environment. In some instances, the drone view emphasizes key features of the landscape and building. An example of this is the aerial view photograph of Columbus City Hall, which accentuates the triangular shape of the building and the dramatic main entrance façade, which is the hypotenuse of the triangle. Another example includes the aerial view of the Columbus Public Library Plaza with the Henry Moore public art sculpture. The close proximity of this plaza to the grounds of the historic Irwin Family Home is not discernable to the public during the summer months as they admire the Public Library and the Large Arch sculpture; yet, the drone photo clearly explains the tight adjacency.  

Whether you are planning your first visit to Columbus – or are a veteran visitor to this unique city – American Modern will provide you with “how it all happened.” In addition, the narrative chapters, advanced knowledge and outstanding photography will assist you in appreciating the city of Columbus at any level.